In the autumn term of 1993 I undertook a schools residency at Beauherne Primary School in Canterbury. This was an opportunity to explore my sculptural and musical interests together in one piece. The title Singing Ringing Tree came from a magical eastern European children's TV programme I saw as a child. I wanted the sculpture to embody something of that same feeling of mystery and wonder.

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Singing Ringing Tree contains a number of large vertically suspended tuned wooden bars, each with its own with resonating tube made from plastic drainpipes incorporated in the body of the sculpture. From the head of the sculpture a number of delicate 'ringing' cymbals are suspended in the air on almost invisible wires. A number of coloured mosaic ceramics and mirror glass are embedded into the body of the sculpture.

 

I undertook a number of musical instrument making workshops with the children to make simple percussion instruments out of found materials. We gave a performance at the fireworks evening at the school, with the children incorporating some playground songs into a ritual celebrating the cycle of a day, with a dawn chorus and various tunes using the home made instruments and song. It culminated with the children singing while circling the sculpture playing the vertical xylophone. The parents loved it!